PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Despite his initial release being postponed due to the lockdown, a honey badger has now been returned to the wild after successfully spending nine months at Tenikwa Wildlife Rehabilitation and Awareness Centre outside Plettenberg Bay.

The team at Tenikwa received the badger on 8 August 2019 when he was only a few months old, after he had already been treated by staff at Knysna Veterinary Clinic. 

Tenikwa operations manager Cam Newton said, according to info supplied to them at the time of the badger's admission, he was apparently found by a farmer in the Rheenendal area in one of his cow sheds. 

"At the time he appeared to be a bit traumatised and slightly concussed, but fortunately not injured. The staff at Knysna Vet did a fantastic job of giving him a thorough examination before contacting us so that he could start with the long process of rehabilitation," Newton said.

He pointed out that when it comes to rehabilitating honey badgers of such a young age, it can be a lengthy process. 

"Badgers of his age require a very long rehabilitation process in order for them to be strong enough and competent to survive on their own once released back into the wild. This process can last up to nine months if not longer, depending on the age or nature of injuries when admitted," Newton explained. In light of this, and given a badger's "notorious reputation for their aggressiveness and incredible strength for such a small animal", the operations manager pointed out that they housed their new guest in his own enclosure right from the outset.

In order to help the badger continually and gradually "develop his strength, climbing abilities and to cater for his insatiable curiosity", the enclosure was fitted with various enrichment "toys". "As he grew physically, he rapidly changed from a timid little individual into a confident and typically no-nonsense badger," Newton said. Once the badger had reached a point in his rehabilitation that the staff at Tenikwa deemed suitable and ready for his release, they contacted Cape Nature to assist them with the selection of a suitable release site.

"We were fortunate to find a private reserve in the Garden Route that met all the criteria," Newton said. "But, unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic put a spanner in the works as he was due to be released in the first week of lockdown." 

Luckily for Tenikwa and the badger, as the lockdown restrictions were gradually eased, on 22 May it finally came time to release him with assistance from Cape Nature into the reserve.

According to Newton, this is now the fourth badger that has been successfully rehabilitated in the 12 years that Tenikwa has been functioning. 

He added that the centre has remained operational during lockdown "for any and all wildlife in need of help, even though our awareness centre has unfortunately had to remain closed". "We currently have a core essential staff of four who look after all the 92 'awareness' animals and the steady flow of rehab animals on a daily basis," Newton concluded.

'We bring you the latest Plettenberg Bay, Garden Route news'